Taking the Risk of Welcoming

In the article ‘Taking the Risk of Welcoming’, Kristina Valendinova and Xavier Fourtou explain the origins and philosophy behind Bubble & Speak – a small charity founded in 2016 and inspired by Françoise Dolto’s Maisons Verte. The project was created to welcome children under four and their parents or carers using a psychoanalytic approach that values play, expression and listening.

The ‘Bubble’ in its name reflects the imaginative, playful world of childhood, while ‘Speak’ signifies the importance of communication and the freedom to express oneself. The article also explores two of the initiative’s key challenges: how to approach family contributions and how to uphold the principle of anonymity in the work.

Valendinova, K. & Fourtou, X. (2022). Taking the Risk of Welcoming. Psychoanalysis and History, 24 (3). Edinburgh University Press.